unexpected costs to moving?

**Josephhgoins** · 12-08-2010, 07:48 AM

For me the biggest surprise was the utilities. I moved from one state to another. At my old place I was on the budget plan with my Electricity provider. I had electric heat and in the winter it really ranked up. When it was time to move, I owed my power company $500.00 that I had to pay at time of cut off. I then had to pay a $200 deposit with my new power company. I also had to pay a $200 deposit with the phone company at my new place as I hadn’t had a land line before. I had failed to account for either of those.

Another big expense was gas in the moving truck. I had budgeting $200.00 but it ended up being about double that.

Then there were the small things I had to buy a new shower curtain, plastic utensils because the good ones where in a box that didn't fit on the truck.

I also was switching positions with my company and had some costs with that. Had to buy a new PC and printer, a new phone and answering machine and upgrade my cell phone plan.

**Darlene** · 12-08-2010, 08:23 AM

When we moved to this home in a new county we found out this area hadn't had a major reassessment in a while. Well not long after moving everyone's home around here did get reassessed and our assessed value went up as did the taxes. Surprise, welcome to your new home!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 12-08-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Depends on how much you value your stuff

Honestly, I don't know how much it is supposed to be. I read online to tip $20 per mover, but I had no idea if that was outdated or regional. I'm pretty sure we over tipped ours, but we packed ourselves and nothing is insured inside your boxes if they don't pack it - so we really wanted him to like us.

We have insurance on the stuff that's being packed... up to $66,000 worth.

**spyzvixxen** · 12-10-2010, 08:45 PM

We upgraded from a 1 br heat/hot water included to a 1st floor of a 1930's house, 3 br. cold water & trash included. I knew our utilities would go up, but we neglected to check the insulation in this 'ol house. There is NONE under us. Quite drafty. Our first whole month of heat on gas bill was a shock!

We owned a water bed and discovered on moving day that there must have been a leak - the whole inside was covered in ORANGE mold. Had to get a new bed that day otherwise we'da been sleeping on the couch.

Also forgot to mention the cost of replacing food. We only moved a few miles but stupid me put my frozen meat & condiments in a trash bag in the (clean) garbage container. It got thrown out. My grocery bill was a bit hefty!

**Judi Dial** · 12-12-2010, 05:37 PM

Two or three things I don't see here that we've had: loss of my stockpile...many of our moves we've moved across the country, and because I haven't lived in the new space, hadn't considered it too well, I almost always end up ditching part of my stockpile. After I've lived in a place a while, the new location where the stockpile should live is apparent. But the obvious new space never seems to be as big as where we're coming from, so I get rid of part of my stockpile as part of my moving prep., and then have to replace it.

My "last thing packed" bag (TP, kleenex, asprin, allergy meds., a bottle of water) seems to never have enough. If I've got 2 rolls of TP in it, we use them up driving cross country, or one gets used cushioning something precious we forgot, or... the net result is that no matter how much planning I do, it seems we're buying a roll of tp or light bulbs, or asprin, or... at a convenience store right after we move into the new place (And I also don't know where the cheap places are yet!)

That's the last one...finding out what works to live frugally in the new place: where to buy food, figuring out the shortest routes to work, the market, etc. all take time and they're an unbudgetable expense, since you don't really know how long it will take you to replace your old, frugal haunts, or if indeed you can!

IHTH --

Judi